In Preaching Articles: "Spiritual Preparation"

Restore Passion To Your Preaching: 3 Essential Steps

By Ken Davis on Nov 5, 2024

Do you sometimes find yourself preaching only because "Sunday is coming"?

Scripture: 2 Samuel 13:1-19

Tags: Preaching, preparation, passion, Process, restore, preaching  (view more)  (view less)

All Great Sermons Contain These Three Elements: Does Your Sermon Have Them?

By Ron Edmondson on Nov 3, 2021

The best part of my sermon message preparation is after it's written.

Scripture: Jeremiah 29:1-15

Tags: Preaching, preparation, intentional, honor time, preaching  (view more)  (view less)

We All Need Adversity And Affliction

By SermonCentral .com on Aug 22, 2022

I would not exchange any of my discipline-afflictions for anything. In fact, I have made it a habit to keep asking God to discipline me. This isn’t because I love affliction, but because the hope in God I’ve tasted in the promises of God I’ve trusted in the darkest days are the sweetest things my soul has ever known.

Scripture: Psalm 119:71-72, Hebrews 12:11

Tags: Adversity, sanctification, Hardship of Life, Spiritual Maturity, Christian Maturity, joy in trials, spiritual immaturity, fruit of sorrow  (view more)  (view less)

The Power Of Biblical Thanksgiving In A Thankless Age

By J. John on Nov 18, 2025

True thanksgiving reshapes the Christian life. It redirects our hearts toward God’s grace, transforms our attitudes, and strengthens hope through daily gratitude.

Scripture: Psalm 136:1, 1 Thessalonians 5:18, Philippians 4:6, Colossians 3:15, Matthew 26:26-27  (view more)  (view less)

Tags: Prayer, Thanks, Thanksgiving Holiday, Spiritual Disciplines

The Dirty Truth About Honoraria

By John Stackhouse on Oct 31, 2025

Count up all of those hours: Is that what we really think our preachers are worth?

Scripture: Mark 16:1-20, Colossians 2:1-10

Tags: Preaching, honoraria, Worth, spiritual health, preaching  (view more)  (view less)

Let’s Keep Reaching Consumers. Aka, Lost Sheep.

By SermonCentral .com on Mar 28, 2021

“The American church is so consumeristic!” It’s a common line uttered by the religiously fed-up, and of course, there’s a lot of truth in it. Some churches in America do tend to cater to the consumeristic mentality of our culture. But I think, on the whole, most churches don’t, and that’s actually part of the problem.

Tags: Missions, lost sheep, Unchurched, Spiritual Maturity

Six Terrible Ways To Recruit Ministry Volunteers In Your Church

By SermonCentral .com on Dec 27, 2021

Sometimes I think church leaders take the most negative approaches in an attempt to encourage more people to get involved in ministry in the church.

Tags: Prayer, Spiritual Gifts, Lay Leadership, Recruiting

Advent: How To Resist The Culture And Clutter Of Christmas

By Steve Smith on Dec 11, 2023

When I practice Advent, I get the opportunity to yet again, start my life over. I am invited to step out and away from my old ways and to begin new ways of living better–living in a different rhythm; living in a deeper–more sacred way.

Tags: Advent, Silence, Christmas Advent, spiritual clutter

A Preaching Q&a With David Platt

By David Platt on Feb 14, 2025

David Platt explains how Scripture governs his preaching, preparation, and pastoral priorities, emphasizing clarity, Christ-centered exposition, and total dependence on God’s Word.

Tags: Learning, BIBLICAL TEACHING, Expository Preaching, Sermon Preparation, expository preaching, sermon preparation, Biblical Teaching, David Platt  (view more)  (view less)

How Do I Study A Specific Topic In The Bible?

By SermonCentral .com on Sep 6, 2022

Studying the Bible does not need to be complex. Simple tools can help us glean amazing insights from the word.

Scripture: Proverbs 2:3-6, Jeremiah 29:13, 2 Timothy 2:7

Tags: BIBLE STUDY, Personal Growth, writing, spiritual growth, Bible Study, Spiritual Discipline, Journaling, Concordance, bible study  (view more)  (view less)

3 Reasons Why I Give My Listeners Homework (And Why You Should, Too)

By Ray Hollenbach on Oct 20, 2025

When we ask something more of our congregation we will quickly discover whether we are preaching for spiritual entertainment or spiritual formation.

Tags: Discipleship

Practice Your Sermon Delivery? Yes: 7 Elements Of Great Practice

By Charles Stone on Nov 21, 2019

Three factors have made the biggest positive difference for me: preparing my heart before the Lord, scheduling adequate study time to avoid feeling rushed and practicing preaching my sermon.

Scripture: Mark 15:27-40

Tags: prep routine, preaching, Study, Preaching, prepare, routine  (view more)  (view less)

10 Ways To Half-Bake Your Sermon: Part 2

By Peter Mead on Aug 13, 2024

Preaching suffers when structure is imposed, cross-references take over, application is neglected, or commentary replaces proclamation. Let the text lead.

Scripture: 2 Timothy 4:2, Nehemiah 8:8, Jeremiah 23:29, Luke 24:32, James 1:22  (view more)  (view less)

Tags: Bible, Preaching, Text, preparation, Homiletics, preaching, bible  (view more)  (view less)

How Long Should A Sermon Be?

By Sherman Haywood Cox on Jul 10, 2020

There is no universal sermon length. What matters most is clarity, focus, and the preacher’s ability to hold attention around one central point.

Scripture: Ecclesiastes 12:9-10, Nehemiah 8:8, 1 Corinthians 14:8, Colossians 4:6

Tags: Communication, Preaching, preparation, Homiletics, Time, communication, preaching  (view more)  (view less)

One Vital Preaching Skill That Just Can't Be Faked: Do You Have It?

By SermonCentral .com on Aug 14, 2025

Brandon Cox challenges us to ask ourselves the tough questions about a core value.

Tags: Preaching, prepare, listener, orator, preaching skill, preaching  (view more)  (view less)